Mowing-machine



(NoiModejL) R. A. LEONARD.

MOWING MAGHINE. I No. 274,793. Patented Mar.27, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ RICHARD A. LEONARD, OF FITGHBURG,MASSACHUSETTS.

MOWlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of' Lett ers Patent No. 274,793, dated March27, 1883,

Application tiled November 16,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, RICHARD A. LEONARD, ofFitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide improved means for enablingthe finger-bar of a mowing-machine to have a limitedverticallyoscillating movement on the pivot orjoint that connects it tothe finger-bar frame of the machine, so that the outer end of thefinger-bar can fall below or rise above the workinglevel of the innerend; and the invention consists in the improvements which I will nowproceed to describe and claim. I

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a top view of the shoe and a portion of thefinger-bar and finger-bar frame of a mowingmachine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 represents a section on line 00 00, Fig. 1, lookingtoward the shoe and finger-bar.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In the drawings, A represents the inner end of a finger-bar of theordinary construction, having the reciprocating cutter-bar B.

0 represents the shoe, to which the inner end of the finger-bar isrigidly attached, said shoehaving ears 0 C, by means of which andaconnecting pivot-bolt, D, the shoe is hinged to the rigid braces E F,forming a part of the linger-bar frame of the machine. The fingerbaroscillates vertically on its pivot in the usual manner. Heretofore theshoe has been provided at theinner side of the pivot with anupwardly-projecting stud or gag-iron, arranged to bear against theportion of the fin ger-' bar frame to which the shoe is pivoted andprevent the outer end of the finger-bar from falling below the level oftheinner end. I dis pense with this fixed gag-iron, leaving the shoe insuch form that its inner end can swing upwardly and the outer end of thefinger-bar can swing downwardly to a considerable extent, so as todisplace it below the level of the shoe. The finger-bar is thus adaptedto conform more accurately to the surfaces sloping downwardly from levelsurfaces on which the wheels of the machine may rest. The fingerbar andshoe are lifted bod-ily with the forward portion of the finger-bar frameof the machine by a lifting-lever pivoted to the main frame of themachine in the usual manner and connected to the finger-bar frame by achain.

H represents a lever pivoted on a stud, I,

. rigidly attached to the under side of the brace E of the finger-barframe, and having a longer and a shorter arm, the former being connectedto the chain J, depending from the lifting-lever, and the latterprojecting between the base E and a boss or ofl'set, K, on the shoe 0,so as to press downwardly on said offset when the longer arm is raisedby the lifting-lever. When the finger-bar is in its normal workingposition the lever H is in a loose condition-that is to say, it isfreeto play loosely on its pivot to a limited extent in eitherdirection, and will permit the outer end of the finger-bar to fall untilthe offset K at. the inner end of the shoe forces the shorter arm of thelever upwardly against the part E of the fingerbar against the part E ofthe finger-bar frame. In

moving to said position the shorter-arm of the lever H depresses theoffset K of the shoe, causing the latter to turn on its pivot andelevate the outer end of the finger-bar several inches, thus enablingthe finger-bar to pass over moderate obstructions at its outer endwithout lifting the shoe and fingerbar frame. A continued backwardmovement of the lilting-lever after the lever H has reached the positionlast described lifts the shoe, finger-bar frame, and finger-barsimultaneously, the tinger-bar being inclined upwardly from its outerend. The outer end of the finger-bar is thus enabled to pass over higherobstructions than it otherwise could.

It will be seen that the shorter arm of the lever H constitutes anadjustable gag-iron,

whereby the outer end of the finger-bar may a The main frame andlifting-lever are not shown IOC in the drawings, their arrangement withreference to the finger-bar frame being well understood.

I claim 5 The combination of the finger-bar frame, the

shoe pivoted thereto, having an offset projecting inwardly under aportion of said frame, and having a finger-bar projecting outwardlytherefrom, and the lever H, pivoted beneath 10 the finger-bar frame, andconnected at its longer end to the lifting-lever on the main frame, andprojecting at its shorter end over the oflset of the shoe, and adapted.to come in contact above its fulcrum with the upper edge of brace E ofthe finger-bar frame, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatiomin thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of November,

\Vitnesses:

HENRY H. CRANE, RosooE'A. LEONARD.

